CHAPTER II 



RESEARCH AND STUDIES PROGRAM 



The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires that the 

 Commission maintain a continuing review of research programs 

 conducted or proposed to be conducted under the authority of 

 the Act, undertake or cause to be undertaken such other 

 studies as it deems necessary or desirable in connection 

 with marine mammal conservation and protection, and take 

 every step feasible to prevent wasteful, duplicative research. 

 To accomplish these tasks, the Commission: conducts an 

 annual survey of Federally-funded marine mammal research; 

 reviews and recommends steps that should be taken to prevent 

 duplication and improve the marine mammal research programs 

 conducted or supported by the National Marine Fisheries 

 Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Minerals Management 

 Service, and other Federal agencies; convenes meetings and 

 workshops to review, plan, and coordinate marine mammal 

 research; and contracts for studies to help define and 

 develop solutions to domestic and international problems 

 affecting marine mammal and habitat conservation so as to 

 complement the other agencies' activities. 



Survey of Federally-Funded Marine Mammal Research 



Research directly or indirectly relevant to the conservation 

 and protection of marine mammals and their habitats is 

 conducted or supported by a broad range of Federal departments 

 and agencies. To determine the precise nature of this 

 research and how it can be used to facilitate marine mammal 

 conservation and protection, and to prevent wasteful duplication, 

 the Commission annually requests and reviews information on 

 the marine mammal research programs being conducted, supported, 

 or planned elsewhere in the Federal Government. 



In 1982, the Commission requested information from 

 eighteen Federal departments and agencies. Responses are 

 not due until early in 1983, but at least thirteen agencies 

 are known to be conducting or supporting research relevant 

 to the conservation and protection of marine mammals. Those 

 organizations are: the Department of State; the Minerals 



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